It was strange that Nate had no problem maintaining eye contact with Merton. “As I said, I like to be of use. I’ve learned a lot about that.”
Merton finished his beer. “It appears that my sister-in-law is interested in you.”
Answered honestly, Nate’s response would reveal a wealth of information. There was nothing to be gained by lying. “I am interested in her as well.”
“How did you meet her, formally?” Merton signaled the serving maid to bring him another beer.
Nate was not going to tell him about Lady Exeter planning the meeting. There might be repercussions that would upset Henrietta. “My mother and the Dowager Duchess of Bristol are old friends. She introduced us at Lady Thornhill’s salon.” Nate shrugged. “There was no one there either of us knew, so we spent the time talking.” Nate took a sip of his beer. He didn’t drink much anymore and he needed to keep his wits about him. “She is an interesting lady.”
Merton muttered something that Nate couldn’t hear, then said, “Bolingbroke and St. Albans are interested in her.”
“I am aware.” But neither of those gentlemen knew Henrietta Stern the way Nate did. Merton was still trying to stare him down, but it wasn’t going to work. “I would like to get to know her better. I think we have many things in common.”
Merton’s lips thinned. “I doubt my wife is willing to forgive and forget.”
“I’d like to apologize to her for my behavior.” If there was any way possible, Nate wanted to get past this. He wanted to be able to take Miss Stern riding during the Grand Strut, to court her in pubic.
“There is also the matter of her parents.” Merton’s eyes bore into Nate’s, almost as if he was trying to catch Nate lying.
He nodded. “If she can forgive me, would not her family listen to her?”
“Most likely. However, I am not at all certain she will forgive you.” Merton picked up his mug and drank again. “I’ll ask her if she will allow you to try to excuse your past behavior.”
“Not excuse.” Never that. “I was wrong, and I callously failed to heed her protests.” Nate wished he hadn’t been so weak before.
“I’ll ask her. That is all I can do.”
“Thank you.” He rose from the table and put down several coins, enough to pay for his and Merton’s drinks.
Before he could leave, Merton said, “The one thousand pounds came from you, did it not?”
“It did.” Would Lady Merton try to return it if she knew Nate had made the donation? He didn’t want that to happen. “I beg you not to tell your wife. I made the donation because saving children and women is a just cause.”
“Did you tell my sister-in-law?” The hardness still had not left Merton’s face.
Nate was starting to feel insulted. “No, and I don’t plan to.”
“I shall ask my wife if she will meet with you.” He donned his hat. “I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
That was what Nate was afraid of. There had to be a way. He just hadn’t found it yet. “Thank you.”
“Have you decided to attend Parliament while you’re in Town?” Merton asked.
“I already have. I was there for the recent vote.”
“Odd.” Merton lips flattened downward, as if he was thinking. “I don’t recall seeing you there.”
Nate lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “I saw you. You were with Worthington and two other gentlemen.”
“Yes, Kenilworth and Rothwell. They’re the husbands of my wife’s closest friends.” Merton stared at Nate for a few seconds. “Where did you sit?”
“I decided to change parties. I sat with the Whigs.”
Rubbing his chin, Merton nodded. “I’ll probably see you soon, then.”
“Probably.”
Nate left the inn after Merton and squinted in the bright sunlight. Even if Lady Merton refused to allow Nate to make amends, he still wanted to see Henrietta. But had letting Merton know of his interest in the lady killed his chances with her? He hoped not. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted her in his life. Still, this problem with Lady Merton did not seem as if it would go away. He couldn’t simply trust to fate. Somehow he had to find some way for her to if not forgive him, at least accept it was up to Henrietta to decide who she would have. Naturally, he would do everything possible to make sure it was him. Perhaps it was time to seek his mother’s advice.
Walking slowly, he made his way home. “Hulatt, where is her ladyship?”
Nate’s butler bowed. “In the morning room, my lord.”
“Thank you.” He handed the man his hat and cane. “That’s where I’ll be.”
“Very good, my lord. Shall I send a tea tray?”
“Yes, please.” Boxing had given him an appetite.
He ambled slowly to the morning room with thoughts of Henrietta Stern filling his mind. He wanted her family to accept him, but failing that, he wanted her to choose him over her family. Yet did he really want that? Her insistence that he reconcile with her sister and brother-in-law did her great credit. If they married, he’d want that same kind of loyalty from her for their family. Nate leaned his head back and sighed. He’d just put himself squarely back to the beginning when she discovered who he was. He was not sure even his mother could help him. He rubbed a hand down the side of his face. There had to be a way to have her as his wife, and have the support of her family.
He entered the morning room, one of his favorite parlors in the house. The pale yellow silk wallpaper was covered with paintings done by family members over the years. The furniture was comfortable rather than fashionable, and situated to make conversation easy. Long windows were spread across the back and one side of the room. Miniature portraits decorated one large, round table in a corner. In the other corner was a cabinet where any number of games could be found. His mother was on the chaise reading a letter.
“Good afternoon,” Nate said as he entered the parlor.
“Ah, Fotherby.” Mama put down the letter and glanced at him. “What happened to you?”
“Merton.” Nate grinned. “I went to Jackson’s Boxing Salon, and he came in while I was there. He doesn’t look any better than I do.” He gingerly touched his jaw. “I’d hoped that indulging him would help him forgive me.”
Mama gave him a dubious look. “Did it?”
“I’m not sure.” Hulatt brought in the tea, including biscuits and several small sandwiches. Nate waited until the butler left before taking a seat on a leather chair next to the chaise. “We went to an inn and had a drink and talked. His wife still thinks badly of me. He said he’d ask her if she would listen to my apology. But I have the feeling he did not hold out much hope of her agreeing.”
His mother poured them cups of tea, and he took two sandwiches and several lemon biscuits. After she had a sip of tea she set down the cup on a low table between his chair and the chaise. “How do you plan to go forward if she will not speak to you?”
“I am not certain.” He sipped his tea. It tasted like a new blend. “I haven’t tasted this before.”
Mama fluttered her fingers. “I decided to try something different. Do you like it?”